Carbon dioxide tank cover for railway refrigerator cars



June Ora-Bx 2,556,354

RAILIAY REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed March 25, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l III M June 12 1951 H. v. WILLIAMSON ETAL CARBON DIOXIDE TANK COVER FOR 2556354 RAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed March 23, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q I M Tatentecl June 12, 1951 CARBON DIOXIDE TANK COVER FOR RAILWAY REFRIGERATOR CARS Hilding V. Williamson and James C. Hesson, Chicago, 111., assignors to Cardox Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 23, 1948, Serial No. 1 6,606

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for the closing and sealing of carbon dioxide storage tanks used in connection with railway refrigerator cars and the adaptation of the closing means for use in association with the outer hatchway and cover of such cars.

In order to insure adequate protection for the contents of a railway refrigerator car by the use of carbon dioxide as the refrigerant, it is essential that carbon dioxide be retained in the system for the entire period of anticipated need for refrigeration. An unsatisfactory or improperly closed cover or seal would permit carbon dioxide vapor to escape from the tank and loss of refrigeration could well result in damage to or total loss of the contents of the car.

In the past, it has been imperative that a close supervision and inspection be maintained to positively eliminate the possibility of loss or damage to goods transported in carbon dioxide refrigerated cars. It has been particularly essential that the sealing covers for the carbon dioxide storage tanks be closely inspected to insure against improper or incomplete closing of the sealing covers.

This need for inspection has been partly due to the indifference or lack of knowledge of the workmen as to the necessity for an effective seal, and partly due to the fact that prior types of sealing covers could be closed properly or improperly without any obvious difference in the external appearance of the refrigerated car.

It is important, then, that a positive and efficient sealing cover be provided and accompanied by an obvious and definite indication for ascertaining without close inspection that the sealing cover has been properly operated to effect sealing of the tank.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a durable and effective cover for carbon dioxide storage tanks which is positive in its closing operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an obvious indication as to whether or not the cover has been properly closed to seal the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel latching mechanism for a carbon dioxide storage tank cover which will lock the cover in its closed position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for protecting the sealing cover and its seating surface from damage due to accident or carelessness of the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is top plan view of the cover device;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the cover device with an associated hatchway shown in vertical section;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the cover device and hatchway of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 3, showing the cover of the hatchway held open as a result of improper closing of the cover device; and

Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 5.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of this invention, and referring first to Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated the use of the cover 'device in conjunction with the receptacle 1 and the hatchway 8.

Use of the cover device as illustrated corresponds to that of the cover device for the carbon dioxide receptacle disclosed in the I-Iilding V. Williamson application, Serial No. 615,945, filed September 13, 1945, now U. S. Patent No. 2,502,- 192, dated Mar. 28, 1950, entitled Refrigerated Car.

The sectioned portion A illustrated in Fig. 3 is intended to represent portions of the roof, side wall and floor of a railway refrigerator car, but does not purport to show the detailed construction which would, of course, include some form of insulating material. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the hatchway 8 and its associated receptacle 1 are located at one corner of the refrigerator car.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 for a detailed description of the cover device, the top cover 9 has a central opening it) and a series of equally spaced apertures ll near its outer periphery for receiving bolts or the like to clamp the top cover to the top of the receptacle 1. The annular member I2 provides a wall surrounding the opening l0 and extending beyond the outer face of top cover 9 to provide a raised seating surface [3 along its top edge.

Another annular member [4 is positioned on the top plate 9 concentric with and outwardly from the annular member 12 and projecting from the outer face of th top plate 9 to a distancev slightly beyond the seating surface l3 of the annular member l2. This annular member 14 serves as a guard wall to protect the seating surface 13 of the annular member l2.

The mounting posts I5 project from the outer face of the top plate 9 and are connected by the pin it which passes through a spacing sleeve I! located between the mounting posts I5.

The supporting arm 88 is composed of two parallel bars [9 and 23 which are mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the connecting pin it and held in position adjacent the opposing faces of the mounting posts [5 by theinterpositioned spacing sleeve H. A crossbar?! connects the parallel bars l3 and near their mid point, and the latch rod 22 connects the free end portions of the parallel bars [9 and 23. The end portions of the latch rod 22 extend beyond the parallel bars l9 and 2B and are fitted with sleeves or rollers 23 which are free to rotate about the axis of the latch rod 22.

The sealing cover 25 is composed of an outer disk 26, an inner disk 21' and an annular sealing ring '23. The outer disk 25 has a groove 2-55 concentrically positioned near the outer periphery .of its inner face, the outer side wall of the groove 26 being undercut. The inner disk 27 has an axially projecting portion 2? along the periphery of one of its faces adapted to extend into the groove 25 in the outer disk 25 along the inner side wall of the groove 26' when the two disks 26 and 2? are in face to'fa'ce contact. The annular sealing ring 23 is positioned in the groove 26 in the outer disk ZE'and'held in position by the undercut portion in the outer side wall .of the groove 26% and the projecting portion 2'! of the inner disk 27 along the inner side wall of the groove 26'. A portion of the annular sealing ring is exposed between'the outer periphery of the inner disk'zl and the outer side wall of the groove 26 in the outer disk'26.

The two disks 26 and 2'! are clamped in face to face contact on the bolt 29 by the welded joint 36 and the nut 31. A portion of thebolt 29 extends beyond the outer face of the disk 1 26 through the spring 32 and the opening 33 in the cross bar 2!, and is retained in this position by the nut 34. Lateral movement of the spring 32 is prevented by the annular member 35 attached to' the cross bar 2! and the annular member 36 attached to the outer disk 26.

The mounting posts 31 project from the outer face of'the top plate '9 and are connected by the pin 38 which passes through the spacing sleeve 39.

The face cams 4i] and 4| are pivotally mounted on the pin 38 and held against lateral movement by the inter-positioned spacing sleeve 39. Each of the cams 4i} and 4| is provided with a groove 42 which is arcuately formed and eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis of the connecting pin 38. The grooves 42 are in the inner faces of the cams and 4| and are so formed as to receive the rollers 23.

The lever arm 43 is connected to the periphery of the cams 40 and 4| and provides ample clearance between its parallel branches to accommodate the width of the supporting arm 18. The free end portion of the arm 43 extends slightly beyond the inner edges of the mounting posts l5.

It will be noted, that the only condition under which both the supporting arm 18 and. the lever arm 43 can occupy their substantially horizontal positions, in Figs. 1 to 4, as shown, is when the seating surface l3.

4 cover device has been properly operated to effect sealing of the opening it. Under any other condition, the arm 43 will interfere with the rotation of the arm 63, see Fig. 6; or the rollers 23, will interfere with the rotation of the lever arm 43, see Fig. 5.

When properly operated, the lever arm 43 is rotated away from the opening it] to a point at which the rollers 23 will, upon rotation of the arm [8, approach a point opposite the entrances to the grooves 42. The lever arm 43 is then rotated toward the opening in which causes the rollers 23 to enter the grooves 42 and as the lever arm 43 approaches its horizontal position the eccentricity .of the grooves 42 causes the supporting arm l8 to be forced toward the opening it. This movement of the supporting arm l8 compresses the spring 32 between the cross bar 2! and the outer disk 26, and the compression of the spring forces the sealing cover 25 against the annular member l2 so that a sealing engagement is established between the exposed portion of the sealing ring 28 and the seating surface 13, of the annular member I2. This sealing engagement will be maintained by the compression of the spring 32 until the sealing cover is released by reversing the procedure outlined above.

The provision of two face cams 40 and 4! for engaging the rollers 23 on opposite sides of the supporting arm l8 results in a greater rigidity of the supporting arm IS with no increase in weight or complication of the cover device.

I Referring now to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the cover device is illustrated in conjunction with the receptacle l positioned in the hatchway 8 having a cover plate 44.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an arrangement in whichthe cover device has been properly operated for sealing the receptacle i so that the cover plate 44 of the hatchway 3 can be properly closed on the hatchway 8. It will be seen that the clearance between the closing device and the cover plate 44 is sufficient under these conditions.

Fig. 5 illustrates a condition in which the closing device has not been properly operated and the sealing cover 25 not properly'seated on the It will be noted, that the cams 40 and iii cannot be rotated by the lever arm 43 beyond the position illustrated and that the cover plate 44 cannot be properly positioned with respect to the hatchway 8 because the rollers 23 interfere with rotation of the lever arm 43 and cause the arm to extend beyond the top of the hatchway 8 to prevent proper closing of the cover plate 44. r

Fig. 6 illustrates a condition of the closing device inwhich the lever arm 43 has been rotated prior to the rotation of the supporting arm l8 in the directionto seat the sealing cover 25 in its closed position. In this instance the lever arm 43 prevents rotation of the supporting arm l8 whereby the supporting arm i3 is caused to extend beyond the top of the hatchway 8 and prevents the proper seating of the cover plate 44 with respect to the hatchway 3.

As a result of the cover plate 4-4 not being properly positioned with respect to the hatchway 8 under any conditions other than those in which the receptacle 1 is properly sealed by the cover device, it becomes obvious that a casual inspection of the cover plate 44 will immediately reveal the fact that the cover device has not been properly closed.

It is to be understoodthat the form-of the'invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A pressure sustaining cover for a receptacle opening, comprising a wall surrounding an opening into a receptacle to provide a raised seating surface, a supporting arm pivotally mounted on the receptacle for movement toward or away from said opening, a cover resiliently mounted on said supporting arm near the medial portion thereof and adapted to engage the seating surface of said wall in closing relationship to said opening, a pair of cams each having an eccentrically positioned arcuate groove in one side thereof, said cams being pivotally mounted on said receptacle for movement so that the grooves are engageable with projecting portions on op- .posite sides of the movable end portion of said supporting arm, and lever means for simultaneously pivoting said cams.

2. A pressure sustaining cover for a receptacle opening, comprising a wall surrounding an opening into a receptacle to provide a raised seating surface, a supporting arm having spaced substantially parallel side bars connected at the medial portions and at one set of corresponding end portions, the other end portions being pivotally mounted on the receptacle for movement of the arm toward or away from said opening, a cover resiliently mounted on said supporting arm near the medial portion thereof and adapted to engage said seating surface in closing relationship to the opening, a pair of cams each having an eccentrically positioned arcuate groove in one side thereof, said cams being pivotally mounted on said receptacle for movement so that the grooves are engageable with opposite sides of the free end portion of said supporting arm, and lever means for simultaneously pivoting said cams.

3. In a pressure sustaining cover for a receptacle opening, an annular seating member surrounding the opening, a supporting arm pivotally mounted on the receptacle and adapted to extend across the opening, a cover resiliently secured to said supporting arm at the medial portion thereof for closing the receptacle opening, a pair of face cams pivotally mounted on the receptacle, each adapted to independently engage the free end portion of said supporting arm for maintaining said cover in sealing engagement with said seating member when rotated about said pivotal mounting, and means for simultaneously rotating said cams.

4. In a pressure sustaining cover for a recep-" tacle opening, a receptacle wall having an opening therethrough surrounded by a seating surface, a supporting arm having parallel branches pivotally mounted on said wall and adapted toextend across said opening, a cross bar connecting said parallel branches at the medial portion of said supporting arm, a latch rod connecting said parallel branches at the free end portion of said supporting arm and projecting beyond both sides thereof, a cover resiliently connected to said cross bar for closing said opening, and a pair of cams pivotally mounted on said wall and adapted to cooperate with the projecting portions of said latch rod for maintaining said cover in sealing engagement with said seating surface.

5. In a pressure sustaining cover for a receptacle opening, a receptacle wall having an opening therethrough surrounded by a seating sur-' face, a supporting arm having a pair of longitudinal bars pivotally mounted on said wall and adapted to extend across said opening, a cross bar connecting said longitudinal bars at the medial portion of said supporting arm, a latch rod connecting said longitudinal bars at the free end portion of said supporting arm and projecting beyond both sides thereof, a roller mounted on each of the projecting portions of said latch rod, sealing means resiliently connected to said cross bar for closing said opening, apair of face cams pivotally mounted on said wall having arcuate grooves eccentrically positioned for independently engaging said rollers to maintain said sealing means in sealing engagement with said seating surface when rotated about said pivotal mounting, and means for simultaneously rotating said cams.

6. In a railway refrigerator car, the combination with a roof hatchway for said car, and a hinged cover plate for the hatchway, of a receptacle having a top opening in alinement with said hatchway disposed below the level of said hatchway, an annular member attached to the receptacle concentric with said opening to provide a seating surface, a supporting arm pivotally mounted on said receptacle top and swingable from a substantially vertical position, in which it projects above said hatchway, to a substantially horizontal position, in which it overlies said opening, sealing means mounted on said supporting arm and adapted to engage said seating surface to close the top opening of said receptacle when said supporting arm is in its substantially horizontal position, a pair of cams pivotally mounted on said receptacle top, lever means for simultaneously pivoting said cams, said lever means being movable between a substantially vertical position, extending above said hatchway, and a substantially horizontal position, overlying said opening, in pivoting said cams, and cooperating means associated with said cams and the free end portion of said supporting arm to cause pivotal movement of the cams to force said sealing means into sealing engagement with said seating surface and maintain the substantially horizontal position of said supporting arm, thesaid vertical positions of the supporting arm and the lever means above the hatchway permitting the hatch cover to be closed only when said arm and lever means are both substantially horizontally positioned to effect the sealing engagement of the sealing means with the seating surface.

7. In a railway refrigerator car, the combination with a roof hatchway for said car, and a hinged cover plate for the hatchway, of a receptacle having a top opening in alinement with said hatchway disposed below the level of said hatchway and provided with a seating surface surrounding said opening, a supporting arm pivotally mounted on said receptacle top and swing able from a substantially vertical position, in which it projects above said hatchway, to a substantially horizontal position, in which it overlies said opening, sealing means mounted on said supporting arm and adapted to engage said seating surface to close the top opening of said receptacle when said supporting arm is in its substantially horizontal position, a pair of cams pivotally mounted on said receptacle top, lever means for simultaneously pivoting said cams, said lever means being movable between a substantially vertical position, extending above said hatchway, and a substantially horizontal position, overlying said opening, in pivoting said cams, and cooperating means associated with said cams and the free end portion of said supporting arm to cause pivotal movement of the cams to force said sealing means into sealing engagement with said seating surface and maintain the substantially horizontal position of said supporting arm, the said vertical positions of the supporting arm and the lever means above the hatchway permitting the hatch cover to be closed only when said arm and lever means are both substantially horizontally positioned to effect the sealing engagement of the sealing means with the seating surface.

8. In a railway refrigerator car, the combina tion with a roof hatchway for said car, and a hinged cover plate for the hatchway, of a re ceptacle having a top opening in alinement with said hatchway disposed below the level of said hatchway, a top plate across said top opening provided with a seating surface surrounding a central opening therethrough, a supporting arm pivotally mounted on said top plate and swingable from a substantially vertical position, in which it projects above said hatchway, to a sub" stantially horizontal position, in which it ovei lies said central opening, sealing means mounted on said supporting arm and adapted to engage said seating surface to close the central opening of said top plate when said supporting arm is its substantially horizontal position, a pair of cams pivotally mounted on said top plate, lever means for simultaneously pivoting said cams, said lever means being movable between a substantially vertical position, extending above said hatchway, and a substantially horizontal position, overlying said central opening, in pivoting said cams, and cooperating means associated with said cams and the free end portion of said supporting arm to cause pivotal movement of the cams to force said sealing means into sealing engagement with said seating surface and maintain the substantially horizontal position of said supporting arm, the said vertical positions of the supporting arm and the lever means above the hatohway permitting the hatch cover to be closed only when said arm and lever means are both substantially horizontally positioned to effect the" sealing engagement of the sealing means with the seating surface.

9. In a railway refrigerator car, the combination with a roof hatchway for said car, and hinged cover plate for the hatchway, of a re ceptaole having a top opening in alinement with said hatohway disposed below the level of said hatchway and provided with a seating surface surrounding said opening, a supporting arm pivotally mounted on said receptacle top and swingable from a substantially vertical position, in which it projects above said hatchway, to a substantially horizontal position, in which it overlies said opening, sealing means mounted on said supporting arm and adapted to engage said seating surface to close the top opening of said re ceptacle when said supporting arm is in its sub-' stantially horizontal position, a pair of cams hav" ing arcuate camming surfaces eccentrically mounted for pivotal movement on said receptacle top, lever means for simultaneously pivoting said cams when rotated from a substantially vertical,

ill

position extending above said hatchway, to a substantially horizontal position in which it overlies said opening and cooperating means associated with said cams and'the free end portion of said supporting arm to cause pivotal movement of the cams to force said sealing means into sealing ehgagement with said seating surface and maintain the substantially horizontal position of said sup porting arm, the said vertical positions of the supporting arm and the lever means above the hat'chway permitting the hatch cover to be closed only when said arm and lever means are both substantially horizontally positioned to effect the sealing engagement of the sealing means with the seating surface.

10 In a railway refrigerator 'car, the combina tion with a roof hatchway for said car, and a hinged cover plate for the hatchway, of a receptacle having a top opening in alinement with said hatchway disposed below the level of said hatchway and provided with a sealing surface surrounding said opening, a supporting arm pivotally mounted on said receptacle top and swing able from a substantialiy vertical position, in which it projects above said .hatchway, to a substantially horizontal position, in which it over: lies said opening, sealing means mounted on said supporting arm and adapted to engage said seating surface to close the top opening of said re ceptacle when said supporting arm is in its sub: stantially horizontal position, a pair of cams having arcuate camming surfaces eccentrically mounted for, pivotal movement on said receptacle top, lever means for simultaneously pivoting said eams when rotated from a substantially ver-' ticalposition extending above said hatchway, to a substantially horizontal position in which it overlies said opening, and a projecting portion on each side of. the free end portion of said sup porting arm adapted to engage the arcuate can;- ming surfaces to cause pivotal movement of the cams to force said sealing means into sealing en'- gagement with said seating surface and maintain the substantially horizontal position of said supporting arm, the said vertical positions of the supporting arm and the lever means above the hatchway permitting the hatch cover to be closed only when said arm and lever means are both substantially horizontally positioned to effect the sealing engagement of the sealing means with" the seating surface.

HILDING V. WILLIAMSON. JAMES C. HESSO'N.

REFERENCE-S errsn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number" Name Date 499,529 Dyer V June I3, 1893' 667,74? Taylor fi'eb. 12, 19:11

1 4, 10,2 7? viberg Mar. 21, 192 2 1330147 Martin oct- 28-, i930v 2 ,085,096 Folmsb'ee June 29', 193"! spe -2 23 Patterson l Feb; 25,194]: 2 ,324,356 Brown July 13-, 1943' 2,342,095 Wanda Feb} 15; 1944' 2,405, 04) Ma'dland July so, 1946' 2,433,084 Be'auohamp Dec. 23, an 

